Sheet-feeding mechanism



May 11 1926.

C. F. FRAUEN BER'GER SHEET FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 31 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 1 M L \w MN MW Q o n m. 5 i m fi Q INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS May11 1926. 1,584,445

\ c. F. FRAUENBERGER v SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 31 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May 11 19 26. 1,584,445

- C. F. FRAUENBERGER SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 51 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR w 5% m M41 BY W441 ATTORNEYS May 11 1926.

C. F. FRAUENBERGER SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Fild Oct. 31 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY M ATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 1926.

means uuirsu stares earsnrorrics;

CARL F. FRAUENBERGER, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS-SIGNMENTS, TO S. H. ROSENBERG, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHEETFEEDIN G MECHANISM.

Application filed. October 31, 1924. Serial No. 747,028.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet feeding mechanism and,while the inr provements are capable of other applica tions, they areparticularly designed for use with a cutting and creasing press.

A press of this type customarily has a substantially vertical bed withwhich a swingplaten cooperates and the face of the platen, when in sheetreceiving position, lies at an angle to the horizontal. Prior feedersfor this type of machine have operated a push the top sheet of verticalstack from a. magazine over the adjacent and highest edge of the platenand to slide it in place against the usual stops mounted adjacent theopposite and lowest edge of the platen. l i hilc this scheme solves, inone way, the problem of feeding a sheet from a vertical stack into anadjacent non-parallel and downwardly inclined platen, the solution isnot ideal because whenever the forward and leading edge of the sheetmeets the least obstruction it catches and, being pushed from the rearedge, becomes crumpled, creased or broken. ll hen it is attempted topull the sheet by gripping its forward edge, the usual nipper mechanismsdo not operate satisfactorily because they travel in a straight lineparallel with the top of th stack and, when the nippcrs release theforward edge of the sheet, such edge, due to the inclination of theplaten, is at best a considerable distance above the lower edge of theplaten. Consepiently, when the sheet is released it has to drop aconsiderable distance in order to reach the platen and the sheet is verylikely to become improperly positioned. While some range of free fallfor the sheet is usually permitted, such range needs to be kept as shortas possible because the movement of the sheet is not then positivelycontrolled.

lhe main, object of this invention is to provide a sheetfeeding'mechanism for the purpose described which includes nipper'mechanism to pull the sheet from the magazine to a position overtheplaten, characterized in that the nippers move at first outwardlyparallel with the face ofthe stack of sheets in the magazine and thenswing downwardly until they become approximately parallel with the sheetreceiving face of the platen and lie closely adjacent thereto at thetime when the sheet is released to drop upon said face.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following descriptionand in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevational view showing the cuttingand creasing press in associated relation with the sheet feedingmechanism of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar but fragmentary view, showing the parts, aspositioned at the end of the sheet feeding movement;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elcvational view, with partsbroken away, of the sheet feeding mechanism alone;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevational views taken on the lines -l-dand 5-5 of Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the sheet feed ing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the rear portionof the magazine; and

Fig. 8 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts aspositioned during the approach of the nippers to the magazine.

Referring to these drawings; the invention is disclosed, by way ofillustrative example,

in connection with a cutting and creasing press. Machines of this typeare used generally in the art of making cardboard boxes and the like andare too well known to require detailed description and illustrationherein. For the present purposes, it will suffice to state that thepress comprises a frame A on which'is formed a substantially verticalbed Z), and a platen 0 which cooperates with the bed and is movable fromthe position shown in Fig. 1 to the sheet receiving position shown inFig. 2. The p'laten c is provided with studs (Z one on each side thereofand these studs are connected by links 6 to crank pins f carried bygears g,

Gears 5/ are fixed to a shaft h, one near each end thereof, and aredriven from pinions 1', fixed on the main drive shaft j of the press.

The mechanism for feeding sheets successively to platen c is mountedupon askeleton frame B which also functions as a magazine and receives avertically movable platform upon which the sheets .9 are carried invertically stacked relation. Associated vith frame B are suitablevertical guides, such as 11 and 12, (Figs. 8 and 7) for the stack ofsheets and the top sheet of the stack is maintained at a predeterminedlevel, such as that shown in Fig. 8, by means which cause the platform10 .tobe moved step by step upwardly at each operation -of the :press.Such means include two elevator drums 18,- one on each side of frame B,which drums are fixed to ashaft 1%, rotatably mounted in the frame.Aneye 16 is lined to each drum and a cable 17 is looped through eacheye,its two extensions passing upwardly over a sheave orsheave-s 1S,

and thence downwardly for connection 111 laterally spaced relation toplatform 10.

- The elevator drums 13 are operated by the following mechanism. Fixedto shaft l l is a gear 19, driven by a pinion 20, which is mounted on astud 21, fixed to frame B. Fixed to pinion 20 is a gear 22, driven by apinion 28 to which is fixed a ratchet wheel the latter and pinion 23being rotatable on a stud 25 fixed to frame B. A holding pawl2G,-monnt'ed on frameB is associated with ratchet wheel as is also anactuating pawl 27, carried by an 'arm 28, pivotally mounted on stud 25.by a link 29 to a lever 30, which is pivotally mounted intermediate itsends on frame B and the connection of the link to the lever ispreferably adjustable, as indicated, to enable the throw of pawl 27 tobe varied, as desired. Lever 3G is connected by a link 31, to one of twosimilar levers'32, which are mounted intermediate their ends on a crossshaft 33 (rotatably mounted in frames B) and disposed oneat each end ofthe shaft. The lower ends of levers 32 are connected by a link 3% to thedescribed crank pins (Z, whereby on each swinging movement of platen c,the platform 10 will be elevated on -step,the arrangement being suchthat thetop'sheet of the stack of sheets onthe platform'is maintained ata constant level.

The sheet feeding mechanism, whereby the uppermost sheet of the stack isremoved I iron 35.

Arm 28 is connected ried to the platen. The transferring mechanismincludes nippers which grasp the sheet 8, when positioned as described,and pulls it by its forward edge over the platen. The nippersreciprocate in guides and theguides are pivoted to swing in timedrelation with the reciprocating movement of the nippers so that thelatter carries not only the sheet forwardly but downwardly as well. Bythis arrangement the nippers, when they release the sheet, are so closeto the platen that there is, as a practical matter, no chance for thesheet to become improperly positioned as it falls to the platen.

' The sheet separating and positioning mechanism will first bedescribed'with particular reference to Figs. 3, s and 5. This mechanismfunctions to push the top sheet 8 forwardly from the position shown byfull lines to thatshown by dotted lines in Fig. 8 and over the upperface of an angle Referring to Fig. 3, two shafts 36 and '37, onevertically above the other,

:rtend transversely across the magazine, well above the level of theuppermost sheet 8 therein, and are supported near their ends by brackets38 secured to the upper faces of the top side barsof frame B. The lowershaft 37 is oscillated back and forth from one of the levers 32 and forthis purpose has fixed to its forward end, outside bracket '38, adepending arm 39 which is connected by a link 40 to the lever 32 at thesame point at which thedescribed link 31 is connected. Fixed to shaftr87in laterally spaced relation and between the brackets 38 are twodepending arms etl, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected tothe rear ends of arms 42 which carry suitable sheet pushers 43, hereinshownas small. sections of hack saw'blades. These pushers are moved backand forth over the stack of sheets but are held elevated above theuppermost sheet during their rearwardstroke and allowed to engage theuppermost sheet during their forward stroke, whereby the uppermost sheet8 may be moved as above described.

The shaft 36 controls the raising and lowering of the-sheet pushers l3and to this end has fixed thereto two forwardly extending arms @l-l,one'overlying each arm 42 and connected therewith by a suspension linkThe lower pivot pin (l6 of link L5 rides in. a long slot at? provided inarm 42, whereby the latteris free for its reciprocating movei'nent.Thesuspension link is restrained from swinging back and forth by aradius rod 48. As shown the latter is made of a wire, one end of whichis coiled around shaft 37 and the other end of which is bent at rightangles and passed through a hole in link 425. @n the -rearend of shaft36 and outside the adjacent bearing 38 is a collar 4:9' 4) having anotch adapted to receive the inner end of a latch 51 pivoted at 52 tothe adjacent bracke 38, whereby shaft 36 and thus the pushers 43 areheld in the elevated positions illust ated. On collar 49 is fixed an arm52 which is connected by a spring 53 to a pin 54 on latch 51, wherebythe latch is urged toward collar 49 and'whereby the latter and shaft 36can be turned downwardly when latch 51 is withdrawn from notch Theraising and lowering of the pushers 43 is controlled from the shaft 37which re ciprocates them. For lowering the pushers, a cam 55 is fixed toshaft 37 and located below collar 49 and in the path of latch 51. Cam 55is arranged to engage latch 51 at the end of the rearward stroke ofpushers 43 and to move the latch out of notch 50, whereby shaft 36 isturned by spring 53 and the pushers 43 forced into engagement with theuppermost sheet 8 of the stack. The pushers then move forwardly toadvance the top sheet 8, as described, and, as they are thus moved, afinger 56, fixed to shaft 37, swings upwardly and aproaches a set screw57 threaded in a collar 58 fixed on shaft 36. At or near the end of theforward movement of the pushers, finger 56 engages and moves the setscrew 57 and causes shaft 36 to turn in a clockwise directionsufficiently to enable latch 51 to be drawn into place in notch 50,whereby the pushers are held elevated during their rearward strokes.

At the rear of the magazine (Fig. 7), is a knife 59, adjustably mountedin a bracket 60, which in turn is adjustably mounted on a bar 61,extending centrally and longitudinally of the magazine from its rearedge to a position substantially midway between the front and rear edgesof the magazine. Bar 61 is spaced above the uppermost sheet 8 of thestack and is supported at one end from the rear cross member of frame 15(Fig. 7) and at the other end by a cross member 62, (Figs. 6 and 8)which is connected at its ends to the side members of frame B. The knifeis arranged to penetrate through several of the uppermost sheets of thestack and to thereby hold the underlying sheets from being carriedforwardly with the uppermost sheet by frictional engagement. forwardlyby the pushers 43, is ripped away from the knife but the mutilation ofthe sheet, thus caused, occurs in the margi which is later trimmed off.7

The sheet removing means, whereby a sheet positioned by the pushers 43is carried to the platen of the press, include two or more nippers whichare moved to and fro by the levers 32, heretofore described. A shaft 63extends between and connects the two levers 32 and is fixed at its endsto the latter. Intermediate the levers 32 are located nipper arms 64',which are mounted The uppermost sheet, when moved at one end on shaft 63and are free to turn thereon. The other ends of the arms 64 areconnected by a shaft 65 and are free to turn thereon. The ends of shaft65 are connected to the forward ends of two slide bars 66, which aredisposed one on each side of frame B. Each bar 66 is slidably mounted inways formed in a guide piece 67 which is pivoted to frame B at 68. Gibs69 (Fig. 8) serve to hold bar 66 in place in the guide piece 67. Eachguide piece 67 is arranged to be swung on its pivot 63 by means of aslide 70 which is pivotally connected at its upper end by a pin and slotconnection 71 to the side piece and is suitably mounted to slidevertically on frame B. Each lever 32 carries a path cam 72 with which aroll 73 on the lower end and on the outer face of the slide 70 isengaged. As the levers 32 start to swing counter-clockwise from theposition illustrated in Fig. 3, the nipper arms 64 push on shaft 65 andcause bars 66 to be drawn forwardly in their guide pieces 67. The cams72 do not at first lift the guide pieces 67 so that the shaft travelshorizontally outward. Eventually, however, cams 72 cause the guidepieces 67 to be swung upwardly while the bars 66 continue to be drawnout further in guide pieces, with the result that the shaft 65 bcgins totravel downwardly as well as forwardly. Finally, the shaft 65 assumes aposition, such as is shown in Fig. 2, wherein it'lies fairly close tothe receiving face of platen 0 and near its inner edge, the bars 66becoming approximately parallel to the bed of the platen.

The nippers are carried by shaft 65 whereby the leading edge of a.sheets is pulled along in the path described until it comes into aposition such that it can safely be released with assurance that it willdrop into proper position on the platen. Each nipper comprises a fixedjaw 74 formed as a part of the nipper arm 64 at a location close toshaft 65. The movable jaw 75 underlies jaw 74 and is an offset part of alever 76 pivoted on shaft 65 adjacent arm 64. A spring 77 connects a pin78 on the upper end of lever 76 to bar 64 and extends to hold jaw 75 inthe open position illustrated in Fig. 8. The

n ooer end of lever 76 is also connected b a link 7 9 to the free end ofa lever 80 mounted on shaft 63 and free to turn thereon. Pin '78projects beyond. both sides of lever 76 and, on one side, overlies arm64 and is adapted to engage therewith in a notch 81 to limit the degreeof opening movement of the nipper jaw 75. lVhen jaw 75 is closed, a pin82 on lever 80 engages arm 64 and prevents further movement thereof in aclockwise direction and, when lever 30 is thus positioned, the point. ofpivotal connection between link 79 and lever 80 crosses the lineconnecting the centers of pin 78 and shaft 63 whereby the pull of spring77 isin.- effective to open the jaw and the jaws are locked closed.

The jaw 75 is open as shown in Fig. 8, as it moves to the right andapproaches the forward edge of sheet 8. As arms 32 near the end of theirmovement in the described direction, the ends of levers are carried intoengagement with set screws 84:, adjustably mounted in upstandingrelation on the cross bar 62, heretofore described. The rangement issuch that arms 80- are moved far enough to close jaws '75 and they arethereafter held closed by the toggle link arrangement above described.Adjacent each nipper bar Get and fixed to shaft 63 is an arm carrying anadjustable abutment, in the nature of a set screw 86, which lies in thepath of the rear end of a link 7 9. As the arms 32 swing to the left, asviewed in Fig. 8, the nipper arms naturally turn on shaft 63 and theangle between link 79 and set screw 86 decreases until the two finallyengage at or near the end of the outward stroke of arms 32, whereby link79 is pushed downwardly far enough to allow spring 77 to open j aw? 5and release sheet 8.

In operation, the platen c oscillates continuously, thereby'moving thelevers 32 in a similar fashion. The sheet separating means operates toposition a sheet for the nipper mechanism during'the closing movement ofthe platen and during the same movement of the platen the nippermechanism returns toward the magazine with jaws 75 in open position, asshown in Fig. 8. As the nipper mechanism nears the end ofits stroke, theuppermost sheet 8 ofthe stack is pushed out by the sheet separatingmechanism into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. Thenipp'ers approach the sheet and jaws 75 are closed thereupon by reasonof the abutment of stop 86 with the, crank arm 80. The latter is-moved,as described, to lock jaws 7 5 by a toggle action in closed position.This action occurs asthe platen 0 moves into engagement with bed I). Asthe platen moves away from its bed, the levers 32 push the nipper linksor frames 64 toward the platen, and the leading ends ofsuch links, beingconnected to the slides 66 travel at first in a straight line parallelwith the top face of the stack of sheets in the magazine. Eventually,

however, cam 72 comes into play and lifts the slidewaysinto inclinedrelation with said face and finally into positions more nearly parallelwith the sheet receiving face of platen 0, whenv it is fully open and insheet receivingposition. Thiscauses the nippers to dip downwardly andtravel in a curved path until they finally approach very closely to thelowest edge of the platen. At such time. the stop 86 on arm 85' engagesthe crank arnrSO and breaks the toggle which holds? jaw 75 closeda ThSpring 77 then snaps jaw 75 open to release the sheet, which has to droponly a very short distance and can therefore, be positioned properly onthe platen against stop 12 with reasonable certainty.

The sheet, carried by the platen 0 against bed Z), is removed by anysuitable nipper mechanism, represented generally by reference letter 00.Inasmuch as the present invention, .relates entirely to the feeding oftie sheet, it has not been considered necessary to describe in detailthe means for removing the sheets from the platen.

The inventionhas been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at presentpreferred, for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention isdefined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

\Vhat I claim is l. The combination with a press having a swingingplaten opening toa sheet receiving position in which the platen isinclined to the horizontal and slopes downwardly toward its bed,.of amagazine adjacent thereto for holding a vertical stack of sheets to befed to the platen, a lever pivotally mounted on said magazine andconnected to the platen to continuously oscillate therewith, a slidewaypivoted to the magazine and movable froma position substantiallyparallelto the top face of said stack to a position substantiallyparallel to the face of said platen, connections between said slidewayand lever to move the former intermittently from the latter, a slidemounted in said slideway, a link connecting said lever to the forwardend of said slide, and a fixed and a movable nipper aw carried by saidlink.

2. The combination with a press having a swinging platen opening to asheet receiving position in which the'platen is inclined to thehorizontal and slopes downwardly toward its bed, of a magazine adjacentthereto for holding a vertical stack of sheets to be fed to the platen,a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said magazine one on each sidethereof, and connected to the platen to oscillate therewith, a cross barconnecting the upper ends of said levers and fixed thereto, a'pair ofslideways pivoted to said magazine one on each side thereof andconnected to the adjacent lever to be moved thereby'during part of theoscillatory movement of the levers, a slide mounted to reciprocate ineach slideway, a cross bar connecting the leading endsof the slides. alink connecting both said cross bars and free to turn on. the former, anipper jaw pivotally mounted on the last named crossbar and cooperating,with an adjacent portion of said link to grip or release a sheet'placedtherebetween,-a crank arm mounted to turn on the first named cross bar,a link connecting} said crank" arm and nipper jaw, said arm and linkforming a toggle to hold the latter in closed position, an arm fixed onthe first named cross bar and operable at the end of the oscillation ofsaid levers in one direction to break the toggle and open the nipperjaw, a spring to hold said jaw in open position, and a fixed abutmentengagetion to move it and cause the closing of said 10 mpper jaw.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CARL F. FRAUENBERGER.

